Paul Lambert
Lambert first made a name for himself with a 7-1 drumming over Norwich City as Colchester United in August 2009; however, he established himself as a successful manager following his switch to the Canaries.
Just ten days after Lambert’s Colchester side dismantled Norwich in League One, the Scotsman was appointed Canaries boss. He made an immediate impact in the Norfolk side’s history by turning around their form to lead Norwich to the League One title in April 2010.
Norwich’s form under Lambert continued in the second-tier and it was no surprise when they produced another promotion push. Lambert’s expertise from the dug-out secured a second successive promotion; the Canaries never suffered two back-to-back defeats in the league in the same season.
The Canaries survived their first season in the top-flight; however, Lambert left for Aston Villa in June 2012.
Lambert failed to bring his previous success to Villa as, while in control, he suffered the club’s heaviest ever defeat in top-flight football as well as an embarrassing FA Cup defeat to Sheffield United – who at the time were two divisions below Villa.
Subsequent spells with Blackburn Rovers, Wolves and Stoke City followed after Lambert left the Villans in February 2015.
Lambert was unable to replicate his successes at his following employers, but his impact at Norwich City has made him a cult hero at Carrow Road.
Eddie Howe
Eddie Howe, 42, first ventured into coaching after retiring as a player in 2007. His initial success came prior to the decade, keeping Bournemouth afloat despite a 17-point deficit, but his impact since 2010 is still seen as having a major influence to the South Coast side.
In his first full season in charge, Howe managed the Cherries with the restrictions of a transfer embargo. However, despite the limitations put upon him, a 2-0 victory at Burton Albion in April 2010 meant Howe had secured promotion to League One for Bournemouth.
Howe left for Burnley in January 2011 but returned in October 2012 due to personal reasons.
He made yet another immediate impact by winning the League One Manager of the Month for November; in April 2013 he had secured Bournemouth’s promotion to the Championship as League One runners-up.
The Cherries spent two years in the Championship – the first of which they finished tenth – but the second season saw Bournemouth crowned champions as they snitched the title from already-promoted Watford on the final day of the season.
Howe’s success has continued in England’s top-flight, keeping the Cherries afloat since arriving in the Premier League in August 2015, but his achievements in the EFL cannot be underestimated.
Click the right arrow below to find out who has been named the Last Word on Football EFL Manager of the Decade.
